A blog devoted to the discussion of the greatest movies ever made, or The Essential Films. From the beginning of cinema history to present day, these films are crucial to the education of anyone who loves the art of film making.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Kick off your Memorial Day weekend in style with the latest episode of YOUR favorite movie podcast, FORCED PERSPECTIVE! Join SportsGuy515 and Adolfo, along with special guest HEADCASE, as they add another entry into their MY FAVORITE FILM series with a discussion of Headcase’s favorite film – celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary this year – Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. PLUS:

-A film that many people profoundly misunderstand

-The “socially irresponsible” aspect of the original script that had to be changed

-Why Taxi Driver is still embraced after 40 years

-New York in the 1970s…simply fascinating

-Adolfo wants to know why they even sell CANDY at the porn theater…

-A possible misprint on the Taxi Driver Criterion Collection commentary track – was it really recorded in 1986?

-Travis Bickle – “the walking contradiction”

-Filmmaker interpretations vs. audience interpretations

-Bernard Hermann’s score – a hint of romance among hell on Earth

-Betsy and Iris – the Madonna/Whore syndrome

-The greatness of the climactic shootout

-Did the final scene really happen?

-The very weird disclaimer on some TV airings of the film

-The legacy of Taxi Driver

-…and MORE!

OVER 90 MINUTES OF TAXI DRIVER TALK!! GRAB YOUR BAG OF CHUCKLES AND A CUP OF ROYAL CROWN COLA AND DOWNLOAD STREAM NOW!!!

A VERY SPECIAL THANKS to Headcase for allowing the use of the track Taxi Driver off of his album LUNATIC FRINGE: A SELF PORTRAIT (available on Amazon and ITunes now).

Friday, May 20, 2016

The Essential Films was first started in 2009, with only a small number of posts. Since then, the site has expanded to include Top 100 countdowns, a podcast and the site's own version of the Oscars: The Essential Film Awards. The first Essential Film Awards celebrated the films of 2010, with Inception sweeping earning Best Film of the Year and most technical awards like Visual Effects and Editing. In this series, the RETRO Essential Film Awards, we will take a look back at the best films of the years before this site's existence, starting with 2009. Enjoy.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

On this VERY SPECIAL episode of FORCED PERSPECTIVE, SportsGuy515 and Adolfo begin a brand-new mini-series known simply as MY FAVORITE FILM. For this first entry into the mini-series, the duo are joined by special guest BIG D as they thoroughly discuss and dissect SportsGuy’s all-time favorite film – from 1983, the gangster classic, Scarface. PLUS:

-The appeal of not only the story of Scarface, but the character of TONY MONTANA himself.

-How this film saw the birth of the phenomenon known as “Loud Al Pacino.”

-Let’s not forget that this is a remake of the Howard Hawks’ 1932 Scarface film…

-The film’s reception among the Hispanic/Latino community, and the “accuracy” of Pacino’s accent.

-How the opening interrogation scene is one of the most perfect intros for a character in film history.

-The infamous CHAINSAW SCENE, and what you think you see vs. what you actually see.